Top seed Jessica Pegula staged a final-set rally to defeat Russian ninth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 and reach the final of the WTA Charleston Open clay court tournament on Saturday.
Pegula, who ousted defending champion Danielle Collins in Friday’s quarter-finals, looked to be in trouble after falling 4-2 behind in the decisive set to leave Alexandrova serving for a 5-2 lead.
But Alexandrova handed Pegula a lifeline with a shaky service game, and after finding herself down 15-40, gifted her opponent a break with a double fault.
Pegula then held to level at 4-4 and although Alexandrova also held for a 5-4 lead, Pegula was clearly in the ascendant.
The American leveled on serve at 5-5, and then grabbed a crucial break in the 11th game for a 6-5 lead to leave her serving for the match.
Pegula soon held two match points at 40-15, and although Alexandrova saved the first with a crosscourt forehand into the corner, Pegula lasered a backhand down the line to clinch victory.
“That was a tough match — it wasn’t the prettiest,” said Pegula, who will face either eighth seed Amanda Anisimova or Sofia Kenin in Sunday’s final.
Pegula said the blustery conditions had caused problems for both players.
“It was really windy — there were some awkward shots and we were both very uncomfortable,” she said. “On some short balls and low balls, it was kind of swirling. I was just trying not to get frustrated.”
Pegula has now reached the final in three of her past four tournaments, winning the ATX Open in Austin last month before advancing to the Miami Open last week, where she lost in straight sets to Aryna Sabalenka.
